We maintain a 77% controlling financial interest in Matariki Forestry Group (the “New Zealand subsidiary”), a joint venture that owns or leases approximately 419,000 legal acres of New Zealand timberland. Accordingly, we consolidate the New Zealand subsidiary’s balance sheet and results of operations. The portions of the consolidated financial position and results of operations attributable to the New Zealand subsidiary’s 23% noncontrolling interest are reflected as an adjustment to income in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income under the caption “Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates.” Rayonier New Zealand Limited (“RNZ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, serves as the manager of the New Zealand subsidiary.

Upon completion of the Pope Resources merger, we became the manager of three private equity timber funds, Fund II, Fund III, and Fund IV, consisting of 141,000 acres in the Pacific Northwest, and obtained ownership interests in the Funds of 20%, 5%, and 15%, respectively. Prior to the merger with Pope Resources, the Funds were formed by ORM LLC for the purpose of generating a return on investment through the acquisition, management, value enhancement and sale of timberland properties. Based upon an analysis under the variable interest entity guidance, we determined that we had the power to direct the activities that most significantly impacted the Funds’ economic success. Therefore, we were considered the primary beneficiary and were required under ASC 810 — Consolidation to consolidate the Funds. Income attributed to third-party investors is reflected as an adjustment to income in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income under the caption “Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates.”

On July 21, 2021, we sold the rights to manage Fund III and Fund IV, as well as our ownership interests in both funds to BTG Pactual’s Timberland Investment Group (TIG) for an aggregate sales price of $35.9 million and recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income a gain on the sale of $3.7 million under the caption of other operating income (expense), net. Due to the sale of our rights to manage Fund III and Fund IV, we determined that we no longer have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the success of Fund III and Fund IV. As a result, Timber Fund III and IV balance sheets and results of operations are only included in our consolidated financial statements through the date of the sale.

In addition, we completed the liquidation of Fund II timberland assets through three separate transactions during the third and fourth quarters of 2021 for an aggregate sales price of $156.8 million and recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income an aggregate gain on the sales of $51.5 million, of which $10.3 million was attributable to Rayonier. This consisted of a 13,000 acre sale in Washington on September 30, 2021 for a sales price and gain of $87.1 million and $35.9 million, respectively, a 5,000 acre sale in Oregon on October 5, 2021 for a sales price and gain of $37.2 million and $11.0 million, respectively, and a 13,000 acre sale in Oregon on November 1, 2021 for a sales price and gain of $32.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2021, we continue to manage and maintain a 20% ownership interest in Fund II, which is scheduled to terminate in March 2023. Prior to the termination of Fund II, the remaining capital will be distributed to Fund II investors. We continue to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Fund II’s economic success. Therefore, we are considered the primary beneficiary and consolidate Fund II under ASC 810 — Consolidation. The obligations of Fund II do not have any recourse to the Company or the Operating Partnership and the assets of Fund II are not available to satisfy the Company or the Operating Partnership’s liabilities.

Due to Timber Fund II distribution requirements, we classified the portion of proceeds from Fund II Timberland Dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests as a current asset under the caption “Restricted Cash, Timber Funds” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, we recognized a current liability under the caption “Distribution payable, Timber Funds” and a corresponding decrease in “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 8 — Variable Interest Entities and Note 2 4 — Restricted Cash for additional information.

As a performance incentive to us as the manager and general partner of Timber Fund II, the Fund agreement provides for a “carried interest,” permitting us to receive a greater allocable share of the Fund’s earnings from investments relative to our capital contributions and correspondingly reducing the noncontrolling interests’ share of those earnings. After distributions sufficient for the Fund to pay each stockholder a return of 8% on its average investment and reduce its invested capital balance to zero, we are entitled to receive a 20% carried interest of any further distributions. Carried interest is earned to the extent that cumulative investment returns are positive and preferred dividend payment thresholds have been met.

Carried interest is recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income based on the contractual conditions set forth in the agreements governing the Fund as if the Fund were terminated and liquidated at the reporting date. In the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a gain on Fund II carried interest incentive fees of $3.8 million in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income under the caption of other operating income (expense), net.

We maintain an ownership interest in Ferncliff Investors, a real estate joint venture entity. In 2017, Ferncliff Management and Ferncliff Investors were formed for the purpose of raising capital from third parties to invest in an unconsolidated real estate joint venture entity, Bainbridge Landing LLC, which is developing a five-acre parcel on Bainbridge Island, Washington into a multi-family community containing apartments and townhomes. Ferncliff Management is the manager and 33.33% owner of Ferncliff Investors, with the remaining ownership interest in Ferncliff Investors held by third-party investors. Ferncliff Investors holds a 50% interest in Bainbridge Landing LLC, the joint venture entity that owns and is developing the property.

Based upon an analysis under the variable interest entity guidance, we have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Ferncliff Investor’s economic success. Therefore, we are considered the primary beneficiary and are required under ASC 810 — Consolidation to consolidate Ferncliff Investors. The obligations of Ferncliff Investors do not have any recourse to the Company or the Operating Partnership.

Bainbridge Landing LLC is considered a voting interests entity. Ferncliff Investors accounts for its interest in the joint venture entity under the equity method because neither it nor the other member can exercise control over Bainbridge Landing LLC.

The Ferncliff Investors joint venture agreement provides for liquidation rights and distribution priorities that are disproportionate to each member’s ownership interest. Due to the complex nature of cash distributions to members, net income of the joint venture is allocated to members, including us, using the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) method. Under the HLBV method, Ferncliff Investors income or loss is allocated to the members based on the period change in each member’s claim on the book value of net assets, excluding capital contributions and distributions made during the period.

Noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership relate to the third-party ownership of redeemable operating partnership Units. Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership is computed by applying the weighted average redeemable operating partnership units outstanding during the period as a percentage of the weighted average total units outstanding to the Operating Partnership’s net income for the period. If a noncontrolling unitholder redeems a unit for a registered common share of Rayonier or cash, the noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership will be reduced and the Company’s share in the Operating Partnership will be increased by the fair value of each security at the time of redemption.


	2021	2020
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership	$130,121	—
Issuances of redeemable operating partnership units	—	106,752
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership	42,530	24,393
Conversions of redeemable operating partnership units to common shares	(40,676)	(496)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership	4,516	528
Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership	1,601	2,540
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership	(4,269)	(3,596)
Total noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership	$133,823	$130,121